By Masarat Allaqaband / The Torch
masaratallaqaband@lcctorch.com
In their quest to study abroad, LCC nursing students have done everything from standing on a street with bedpans, to writing to some 400 local businesses.
On Dec. 7, 10 LCC nursing students depart for Thailand on an 11-day educational and humanitarian work trip.
From left to right: Kelcie Collins, Sarah Naidu, Leah Smith, Maggie Shatzel, Brandy Winn, Jesse Kennedy and Jessica Williams. In front: Brandy Przybyla and Mathew Johnson. Not pictured from the nursing students going to Thailand is Erin Howes. Contributed Photo
The group of both first- and second-year students will have an opportunity to work with patients in hospitals, clinics and in some cases, even make house calls, in and around Surin.
The journey, which began a year ago when students Erin Howes, Brandy Przybyla and Leah Smith came up with the idea, eventually led to the formation of the LCC’s Student Nursing Association.
“When SNA was formed, we thought it would be a great place to make it a reality as a group organization and it kind snowballed from there,” said Smith, a second-year nursing student, who also serves as vice president of SNA, and is one of 10 members in the volunteer group.
As the idea grew, so did the research for their destination, and their search for the organization with which they could collaborate in Thailand.
Their search ended on Starfish Ventures, a nonprofit volunteer organization that specializes in supporting developmental projects in Thailand, through the placement of foreign volunteers.
“We narrowed it down to Starfish Ventures by finding who works with nursing students, and they were the only ones that work directly with them, rather than people who generally help out,” said Smith.
Starfish works in partnership with Thai organizations in Surin and a few other places in Thailand. “They are a small group of people who are on the ground every day. It seemed to be perfect for us,” Smith added.
Funding for the trip was their biggest challenge. SNA asked the students for $350 towards registration fees for the trip, which narrowed the participants.
Over the last year, they wrote to 400 local businesses and contacted big corporations like Walmart, Kohl’s, Target and Sprint. With no luck from those corporations, they went old-school.
The group washed cars at Les Schwab, held garage sales, and handed out discount flyers for Papa’s Pizza, Chili’s, Dickey Joe’s, Abby’s Pizza and Mucho Gusto; the group did it all.
“We did a lot of fundraising over the summer,” said Sarah Naidu, a first- year student who is travelling with the students to Thailand.
The biggest success was at the Ninkasi Brewery, where the band Maca Rey played. That night the students raised $650.
Next was the “Fill the Pan” campaign. The students lined up at the Duck games, and at 7th and Pearl with banners and bedpans, and raised a good amount of money.
SNA approached ASLCC throughout summer about the plan and made a presentation for funding.
“We were all really stoked about the idea. Nothing like this has been done before here at Lane,” said LynDel Simmon, an ASLCC senator.
The $7,500 grant from ASLCC to send six students was a huge surprise. Smith said, “It was a total dream come true.”
The excitement of what lies ahead is evident from their faces, and the conversations that nowadays are mostly about Thai food, culture or language.
“Study abroad opportunities for nursing students are great, and for students to be competitive in today’s globalized world, international experiences are critically important,” said Netty Garner, student adviser at the nursing school.
She added, “Having to go to a less-developed country, and use your skills as a nurse in those limited resources will help them to be more creative and enhance their skills as nurses.”
Garner feels proud of all her students for their accomplishments.
“This group is so on top of it, they are so organized and thoughtful,” Garner said.
“I appreciate their understanding and sensitivities and can’t imagine the work they are doing.”
The group will depart the day after finals, and are excited for the upcoming experience.
“My personal goal is to grow from the experience and I have no idea what else to expect,” said first-year nursing student Jessica Kennedy. “I want to know how they do nursing compared to how we do it here, and it’s going to be huge learning experience for all.”
Smith wants to experience the health care practices of developing countries, rather than reading about it in books and magazines, and bring it all back and help patients here in the states.
“We expect them to represent the school in a reasonable fashion and have a lot of practical on-the-job training so that they can come back and share it with their fellow students,” said Simmons.
